The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-02-09
THE POSTMISTRESS.
BY sIBELLA Il. EnGCnME

BY sIBELLA b. EDGCoME.
'Muffins and crumpets made to Or
der" Thus ran the written notice.
penned, too, in characters nearly ap-
preaching half-text. stuck up in one of
the few principal shops facing the main
street.
The unimportant village of sIammer-
ton" lay somewhat far away from any
town, and therefore did fair amount of
steady going business on its own ac-
count. Foremost of all ranked the re-
posltory, or store, rented by Janet Isle,
In which she sold stationery, newspa-
pers, the magazines of the day if duly
ordered in time, besides a variety of use
ful odds and ends. She was also the viii
lage postmistress, and carried out the du-
ties OF her office with marked regard to
promptitude. In each of these pursuits.
however, she was aided by her pretty
and winsome niece, Elsie Falconbridge.
In all reality, Elsie was more mistress
OF the postal department than Janet
Llsle herself 1t was she who ordinarily
undertook the dispatch of that twice-a-
DAY letter-bag, bestowing upon each mis-
slve previously the due official stamp
mark Janet Lisle's right hand. In
fact, as every one said. She, too, it was
VINO made the mullins and crumpets-
muthrs and crumpets which were so pop
9lar In the village that no one ever
oreamt OF having a tea party without
also having ''mu inns and crumpets" to
match.
"O0llge me with q two-cent stamp.
Miss Falconbridge, won't you?" and a
somewhat elderly man at that moment
stared her in the face this necessarily,
however-through the gap made in the
wire network marking off the space al
lotted to the postoffice department.
She handed him what he REQUIRED
tAnd registered envelope, also,n he
said. '
Again she had fulfilled his request.
THANK you, and without more ado
he deposited twenty dollar note within
the same.
''All right" he solloquized. as old
| gentlemen are so fond of doing. "Come.
that's done, at any rate " he added. in
self f-congratulatory fashion.
Then came aloud, questioningly:
In the letter-box2-or shall leave it
with you9"
you can leave it here, SIR" all
S"Si iSN GlSiO, quietly
Others were now coming in fast, de-
manding this and that, and in adopting
calm exterior lay her only chance of at,
tending rightly to each petitioner.
Janet Lisle also was unusually busy
that afternoon. Miss Veal, the richest
old lady IN the parish, gave large tea
party that very evening, and mullins and
crumpets were accor lingly being sent off
in startlingly large quantities.
lis there any letter waiting for me to-
day, pleaseI" asked somewhat timid
voice few minutes later on.
mo, Miss Josephine, nothing"
II am sorry. isappointing-is it
The two speakers seemed fully to com
prehend each other. There existed, ap
parently, sort of pleasant sympathy be-
tween them.
Both were pretty. Both looked good,
and also thoroughly in earnest. Only,
that the assistant postmistress appeared
full of brightness and life, and the GIRL
now facing her wore the aspect of being
tired of life already.
''Yes, very. am sorry too. "
''Thank you. You are always kind. |
Will look in again tomorrow, if my doing
so will not trouble you too much.n
mot at all Miss Josephine
The last named was already moving
away to make room for some one else.
Elsie FalcOnbridge had, however not
yet completed her business with the late
lawyers daughter
"Auntie, she whispered, ''take my
place here for moment.n
| Janet Lisle nodded In assent.
''Do come in here an instant with me,
won't youF and Elsie signed that Miss
Josephine should accompany her into the
coy back parlor, where all was now in
readiness for tea. ''The fact is, Miss
Josephine, I've done the most stupid
thing imaginable to-day-made a mis-
take. and prepared nearly twice the num-
Der of crumpets that will be wanted by
| anybody. Isn't it absurd of me2 You
won't mind--no, Pm sure you won't,
Miss Josephine-helping me out of my
trouble9"
''But how2" came, hesitatingly, in re-
| sponse. Then came-ahl so bravely, for
it is ever difficult to tell the plain truth
! in such matters 81 can't. It's quite
impossible. We have no money. Don't
you understand"
"Absurd !" was the interruption.
"Why, it's favor I'm asking of you /;
don't you see2 knew you would be in
to-day, for certain, and would befriend
me. It's only that l want you, if you
don't mind the trouble, to carry home a
dozen or so TO your sweet mother. Many's
the dozen she has ordered from us in the
past, when, perhaps, we haven't been
able TO supply her. One can't forget
that fact, you know, in a hurry. So
tbe- they are, Miss Josephine, all hot